Holiday travel and personal safety tips

Staff reports

Wednesday

Nov 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 26, 2008 at 6:01 AM

During the holidays, motorists need to remain attentive to their surroundings, exercise patience, extend respect and courtesy to other motorists and avoid and limit distractions inside the vehicle, according to the Louisiana State Police.

During the holidays, motorists need to remain attentive to their surroundings, exercise patience, extend respect and courtesy to other motorists and avoid and limit distractions inside the vehicle, according to the Louisiana State Police.

The state police intend to target the aggressive driver, the impaired driver, those who choose not to wear their seatbelts and those who choose not to put their children in child restraints.

"The main reason we target these individuals is because these are key factors why fatal crashes occur," said a spokesperson for the state police. "As troopers, we are dedicated in the mission of providing a safer environment for all of our families to drive in. We will be targeting particularly the interstate and federal highways, but at the same time will continue to have a strong officer presence on state and parish roadways."

The motoring public should follow a few safety guidelines in order to have an enjoyable and safe journey to their holiday destinations. First and foremost, drivers and all passengers should wear their seatbelts.

Lack of seatbelt usage is still the leading cause of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. Last year 68 percent of all fatalities in Louisiana involved lack of seatbelt usage and 80 percent of children (below 5 years) killed in crashes were not properly restrained. Those persons not properly restrained become high-speed projectiles when a crash occurs. This factor alone can cause serious injury or death to other occupants in the vehicle.

In a 30-mph crash, a 15-pound child can generate an impact force greater than 450 pounds. While not all crashes are survivable, seatbelts can greatly decrease the occupant’s chance of death and will greatly reduce the extent of injury.

Second, and just as important, is the topic of driving while intoxicated. Last year 49 percent of all fatal crashes in Louisiana involved alcohol, a figure which indicates an increase of 6.8 percent from 2006.

There is also a direct correlation between driving while intoxicated and speeding when related to traffic fatalities. A dramatically high percentage of drivers involved in traffic fatalities where intoxication (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams percent or higher) is a factor are also speeding when compared to drivers involved in traffic fatalities where intoxication (blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .000 grams percent) is not a factor. Alcohol can impair visual ability, alter sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle and decrease reaction times. Just one drink may cause these effects.

Also, in order to ensure a safe following distance, motorists should exercise the three-second rule. To apply this rule, choose a stationary object (i.e. milepost sign) and begin counting to three by one thousandths when the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of your vehicle passes that object. If your vehicle passes that same stationary object prior to three seconds, then you are following too close. If traveling during inclement weather, higher speeds, or high traffic volume, motorists should allow four to five seconds between vehicles.

In 2007, there were 895 fatal crashes reported in Louisiana. Of those, 653 occurred in a rural area. Motorists should exercise just as much caution and care when driving on these roadways as they would on an interstate system.

The state police also cautioned agaisnt stopping to assist disabled motorists. Instead, call call *577 (*LSP) from your cellular phone or your local law enforcement agency and be ready to provide a vehicle description and the location.

If your own vehicle becomes disabled, be hesitant about accepting or soliciting help from a stranger. Stay in your vehicle with the windows rolled up and the doors locked. Call a family member, friend, or law enforcement for help. If you do not have a cellular phone and a stranger stops to help, stay in your vehicle and ask that person to call for you.

Prior to traveling, ensure your vehicle is in proper working order. Your gas tank should be full, tires inflated to manufacturer’s specification, and the tread on your tires should be of sufficient depth (not less than 3/32 inch).

Leesville Daily Leader

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